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Story of O: A Novel

About the book

The classic erotic novel, THE STORY OF O relates the love of a beautiful Parisian fashion photographer for Rene. As part of that intense love, she demands debasement and severe sexual and pychological tests. It is a unique work not to be missed.read more

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Reviews for Story of O: A Novel

zmrzlina_1

This is a much maligned book, at least in my experience. When I was reading it people, even strangers, would say things like "Why would you want to read something that glorifies violence against women?" but, I don't think it does at all. Women in abusive relationships never feel as if they can walk out of the situation. O knows she can, but doesn't. The second half of the book is not as satisfying, thus the less than stellar rating.read more

At the time of its initial publication and lasting to this day, this novel has sparked great controversy. Classified as erotica, this is a story of one woman's complete submission, not only physically and sexually, but emotionally and spiritually as well, to her lover. Interestingly enough I find this much more than an erotic novel which just happens to feature sadomasochism and bondage etc. On a much deeper level, and here is where I think the "truth and beauty" of this work lies, it explores sexuality and the psychology of it, in perhaps ways never examined before. If one can read beyond the literal and can get beyond the sexual rites and rituals here, one finds some very interesting and "darker" truths that may very well be quite "Universal." A powerful novel, not because of the graphic sex, but for what is clearly revealed.read more

This book is an exceptional adventure. What does it feel like to have someone else in control of everything? where you live, what you do, what you wear. I was apprehensive at the start of the book but as I continued I was captivated by the degrading tasks O succumbs to.read more

Perhaps this is a classic of erotica -- and I admit to having read it twice -- but in the end it's just a story of hatred clothed in anti-erotic sex. Hatred of self, hatred of women, hatred of men -- no one escapes. Not a scrap of redemption possible. The first read left me questioning, the second read confirmed what I suspected. I do not find hatred erotic.read more

A fictional novel following the female protagonist in her submission to her lover. Throughout the novel, O’s consent is asked for, though there are situations of potentially dubious consent featuring other characters. The reader sees O blindfolded, whipped, chained, pierced, branded, masked, and trained to always be available for any type of intercourse with anyone approved by her lover. Additionally, the reader sees O proudly showing off her welts, branding, and piercings to her female lover.Trained at the chateau of Roissy by a group of upper-class men, O did not know what her lover had or had not done when she was whipped and taken as was frequently blindfolded or partnered with men wearing masks. At the end of this training, her lover gives her to a more dominant master: Sir Stephen. Her lover claims that it is very important for O to learn how to serve someone she does not love, and who does not love her. However, as the training progresses, O falls in love with Sir Stephen, and she is under the impression that he loves her as well. O chooses to remain with Sir Stephen instead of her lover, and is branded and pierced with his initials and crest.There has been some feminist backlash against this novel. Dworkin, for example, argues that having the protagonist’s name shortened to O represents her being zero, empty, and nothing more than an orifice. It has also been argued that the novel is just about the ultimate objectification of the female, and that it glorifies the abuse of women.In this light, the character of O does delineate being submissive as a person from being submissive in a sexual context. We do, however briefly, see her life in the outside world as a successful photographer. Furthermore, I think it is useful to keep in mind that Réage wrote this as a series of fantasy letters to her lover, a de Sade fan.I would not recommend this to anyone uncomfortable with mixing pain and pleasure; otherwise, it’s an interesting fantasy.Nibble: “And yet all she was aiming for was to make the silks, the furs, and the laces more beautiful by that sudden beauty of an elfin creature surprised by her reflection in the mirror, which Jacqueline became in the simplest blouse, as she did in the most elegant mink.”read more

I cannot stress enough what a seminal work Story of O is in defining 20th-century erotica. Not only is it meant to have broken boundaries concerning BDSM and its mainstream acceptability, it's actually well-written, which is more than can be said for a great deal of erotica or pornography. In that facet alone it is remarkable, and very riveting as a piece of writing. I read it largely in one sitting, something I do with very few books.read more